Claremont, Duarte and Baldwin Park are among only 10 cities in the state that signed up for the National League of Cities’ discount prescription drug program.

The program was launched last year and is aimed at helping those without health insurance, or those who have prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance, said Marc Shapiro, who oversees the program for the League of Cities.

“I don’t see why any city wouldn’t be a member of this program. It’s not costing them anything. It’s the pharmacies that are basically giving the discount,” Baldwin Park City Chief Executive Editor Vijay Singhal said.

“What we find is that many of the pharmacies agree to participate because it brings customers in the store,” said Christine Cramer, spokesperson for CVS Caremark, which acts as the intermediary between cities and pharmacies.

Nationwide, only 122 of the NLC’s 1,600 member cities have signed up for the program.

Local cities pay between $3,000 and $9,000 to belong to the League, depending on population.

Pasadena, Santa Fe Springs, West Covina, Azusa, Diamond Bar, La Puente, Monrovia, Rosemead, San Gabriel and Irwindale are all NLC members, but none of them signed up for the discount program.

West Covina is cutting back expenses and might drop out of the League this year, City Manager Andy Pasmant said.

Pasadena officials said they already had good health services.

In some cities, managers said they were not aware the program existed, while others said that it would not be beneficial to their residents.

Irwindale Assistant City Manager Camille Diaz said the city does not participate because it offers its own prescription and vision coverage to residents.

“Our program is more inclusive than the NLC plan,” Diaz said. “But for cities that don’t offer any prescription plans to its residents, the NLC program is a great alternative.”

The program is free.

Once a resident receives a discount card from the city they live in, they can go to the participating pharmacies and receive the discount.

In Duarte and Baldwin Park, the programs are just beginning. Duarte has 50 participants. In Baldwin Park, officials are just now starting to advertise the program to residents.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot of savings, but some of these prescriptions are pretty expensive,” said Duarte City Manager Darrell George. “Saving $20 bucks on a $100 prescription is pretty helpful.”

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